Owner operators warned to guard against fuel pilfering
Date: 10 January 2008
Logistics companies must be on their guard against fuel pilfering, Motor Transport warns.
With the increasing popularity of diesel cars, thieves are more likely to steal this type of fuel from owner operators, and the publication's John Philips notes that it can impact especially badly at a time when fuel is at an all-time high.
"Taking our sample 40- and 44-tonners fitted, say, with 455-litre fuel tanks, 50 litres pilfered from each would reduce their apparent average fuel consumption significantly from 7.8mpg to just under 7mpg and from 7.2mpg to 6.4mpg respectively," he said.
"Without measuring fuel usage, how would you know?"
Motor Transport notes that the national average price of diesel has increased rapidly in recent months, and the fuel cost per mile for 40 and 44-tonne freight haulage trucks now stands at 53.32p and 57.77p respectively.
In October last year, the government hiked fuel duty by 2p per litre, adding to the woes of freight haulage companies.
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